CHICAGO — Users of electronic cigarettes could soon find themselves subject to Chicago’s smoking ban as the city tries to limit the use of the battery-powered nicotine vapor inhalers, which have become popular among minors and young adults.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is backing an ordinance that would expand the city’s regulation of tobacco products to include e-cigarettes, barring their use in offices, indoor public areas and within 10 feet of building entrances.

Electronic cigarettes are metal or plastic battery-powered devices resembling traditional cigarettes that heat a liquid nicotine solution, creating vapor that users inhale. Users get nicotine without the chemicals, tar or odor of regular cigarettes. But their popularity among young people has raised the concern of public health officials and lawmakers.

Authorities in Illinois and other states have accused manufactures of marketing e-cigarettes to children, and Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation in August that will ban their sale to minors in Illinois starting Jan. 1. More than 20 states have done the same.

Chicago’s crackdown is paired with another ordinance to be introduced this week that would prohibit the sale of menthol and flavored tobacco products within 500 feet of Chicago schools.

“This is part of our overall strategy to address the impact of tobacco on youth,” Health Commissioner Dr. Bechara Choucair told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We’ve seen a decrease (in youth smoking), then a plateau. We really need to break that plateau.”

Based on survey results released in September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 1.8 million middle and high school students had tried e-cigarettes in 2012, mirroring increases in the use of the product by adults.

Emanuel’s 2014 budget includes an increase on cigarette taxes of 75 cents a pack, which would give the city the highest combined state and local tax in the country. That budget will also get a vote Tuesday.

The ordinance on menthol and flavored tobacco products would expand the school zones where sales are outlawed by five times.

“We know that adolescent smokers use flavored products,” Choucair said. “That’s how Big Tobacco gets these kids addicted. They lure them in with these colorful packing and sweet flavors.”